Monday, September 17, 2012

The sixth women's chess grand prix of the cycle 2011-12 has begun in Ankara, Istanbul. The president of TCF, FIDE Vice-President Ali Nihat Yazici made symbolic move 1.e4 in the game between Betul Yildiz and Humpy Koneru. Hou Yifan has already won the series. In case, she loses her world chess championship title later this year, she would have the right to become the challenger for the 2012 women's world chess championship. Else, the option would go to the player placed second in the series.

If Yifan keeps her world chess title, the challenger could be Anna Muzychuk, Humpy Koneru, Zhao Xue or Ju Wenjun.

In the first round, Chinese players Ruan Lufei and Zhao Xue won their games against Kubra Ozturk and Antoaneta Stefanova respectively. Their compatriot Ju Wenjun made a draw with the top-seed of the tournament Anna Muzychuk. Viktorija Cmilyte and Humpy Koneru overplayed with black pieces Monika Socko and Betul Yildiz respectively. The longest game of the first round between Munguntuul Batkhuyag and Tatiana Kosintseva finished in a draw.

Earlier, the opening ceremony and technical meeting of the 6th stage of FIDE Women Grand Prix Series 2011-2012 took place in Goksu Lokantasi Restaurant in Ankara on the 15th of September. The event was attended by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, FIDE Vice-President and President of TCF Ali Nihat Yazici, FIDE CEO Geoffrey Borg, Assistant to the FIDE President Berik Balgabaev, Suat Sözen, the corporate communications Manager of Türkiye İş Bankası, other guests and players.

During the technical meeting the Chief Arbiter Ozgur Solakoglu drew the attention of the participants to the “no-draw offer” and "zero tolerance" rule. Any draw claim will be permitted only through the chief arbiter in the cases of the triple-repetition of the position, perpetual check, in case of theoretically drawn position and the 50 moves rule. Nona Gaprindashvili and Nana Alexandria will be the Technical Adviser and the Head of Appeal Committee respectively.

Ali Nihat Yazici welcomed participants and honorary guests and thanked the government of Türkiye İş Bankası for their great support.

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov thanked the board of TCF, the President of TCF Ali Nihat Yazici, the sponsor Is Bankasi for the organization of the 6th stage of FIDE Women Grand Prix in Ankara. He welcomed participants and chess legends Nana Alexandria and Nona Gaprindashvili.